Diagnostic Value of 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI in the Management of Suspected Facet Joint Arthropathy

Summary

Prior to the injection, the facet joints have to be defined according to standard radiological techniques (e.g. MRI and physical correlation). Patients are then sent to 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI imaging, in order to localize facet joints with increased uptake. Facet joints to be injected are again defined according to the location(s) of highest uptake as demonstrated by 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI.

The defined injection sites before and after PET/MRI are compared. In equal defined injection sites, patients are sent for infiltration as scheduled, otherwise patients are randomized into two groups.

One group will undergo facet injection(s) according to the 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI result, with standard injections performed under CT-guidance by the radiology department of the study site. The control group will undergo facet injections blinded to the 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI results, but based on current standard clinical practise (MRI and clinical correlation).

The patients are asked to complete a validated pain and function questionnaire immediately before the facet joint injection, at 15 minutes, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after the injection, as performed routinely in our institution.

The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the value of 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI imaging in patients with low back pain with evidence of painful facet joint arthropathy, which would potentially benefit from facet joint injections.

Conditions

• Arthropathy of Lumbar Facet
• Pain, Back

Interventions

DEVICE

18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI

facet joint injection guided by the anatomical localization of causative structures by PET/MRI compared to standard assessment techniques.

PROCEDURE

facet injection

facet joint local anesthetic and corticosteroid injection according to the 18F-Fluoride-PET/MRI result or based on current standard clinical practise (MRI and clinical correlation) respectively

OTHER

pain assessment by VAS

VAS questionnaire immediately before the facet joint injection, at 15 minutes, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after the injection, as performed routinely in our institution.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Zurich

  collaborator OTHER

• Balgrist University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mazda Farshad, PD Dr. med. · Balgrist University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-05-26

Primary Completion

2020-04-24

Completion

2020-04-24

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations